Washington DC — January 8, 2010 — IRD congratulates Dr. Rajiv Shah on his swearing-in as the 16th Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Dr. Shah brings great experience and leadership, which will strengthen the role of USAID and development within our nation’s foreign policy and national security architecture,” said Dr. Arthur Keys, President and Chief Executive Officer of IRD. “For too long, development has taken a back seat to defense and diplomacy activities around the world, yet we’ve learned repeatedly in Iraq and Afghanistan that we must all work together as partners to achieve the greatest good and build lasting change for those most in need.”

As our nation’s aid programs become a higher national priority, IRD looks forward to working with Dr. Shah to address some of our world’s most devastating problems, including, HIV/AIDS, hunger, poverty and conflict.